Future-Proof Your Path: College, Career & Beyond
Brand Up Academy prepares tomorrow’s leaders with real-world skills to stand out and succeed throughout their academic and professional journeys.

Overview
Strong grades are no longer sufficient for student success. Brand Up Academy enables middle and high school students to identify their strengths, communicate confidently, and develop a digital presence valued by colleges and employers. Drawing from the best-selling book Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success (Post Hill Press/Simon & Shuster) the program integrates personal branding, digital leadership, and practical skills to support students with applications, interviews, and professional networking.
Brand Up Academy has been featured in national media and is used by schools, youth organizations, and leadership programs dedicated to providing students with future-ready skills beyond traditional classroom instruction.
The program is led by experienced educators Stacey Ross Cohen and Jason Shaffer.
Turning Strengths into Opportunities
Brand Up Academy helps students identify their strengths, communicate them effectively, and develop the mindsets and skills needed for success in school, college, and early careers. Students learn how to:
- Articulate their story and value
- Communicate with clarity, authenticity, and purpose
- Build a positive, strategic digital presence
- Present themselves confidently in applications and interviews
Brand Up Academy provides student assemblies, workshops, and sessions for parents and educators, creating a shared approach to growth and readiness throughout the school community.
Results. Recognition. Reach.
- #1 Amazon Best-Seller in College Admissions, Career Development & Vocation categories
- TEDx Talk “Branding from Birth” has reached 1.3M+ views
- Featured on Good Morning America, Forbes, USA Today, and Newsweek
- Stocked in 25+ Barnes & Noble college bookstores, including Harvard, Yale, UPenn, and Emory
- Curriculum offered in select high schools and summer leadership programs
- Jason Shaffer, an innovative educator and program developer at Brand Up, developed a Personal Branding and Digital Communications curriculum that has become a national model and is required for ninth-grade students.
- Brand Up Academy engages the broader community through speaking events and youth organization initiatives, including partnerships with Boys & Girls Club, Y, and Teen Sharp.
- Endorsed by Barbara Corcoran, Mel Robbins, Kayko (American Idol 2024 finalist), and other notable voices
What Educators, Leaders, and Students Say



